In Character: Shakespeare's 'Hamlet'

Portraits of actors and actresses portraying characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

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John Philip Kemble as Hamlet, by James Egan, after Sir Thomas Lawrence, published 1838 (1801), NPG D3395, © National Portrait Gallery, London
John Philip Kemble as Hamlet, by James Egan, after Sir Thomas Lawrence, published 1838 (1801)
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Charles John Kean as Hamlet, after a daguerreotype by William Paine, 1840s?, NPG D3449, © National Portrait Gallery, London
Charles John Kean as Hamlet, after a daguerreotype by William Paine, 1840s?
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Stephen Kemble ('Hamlet in Scotland'), by and published by Robert Dighton, published 6 December 1794, NPG D10685, © National Portrait Gallery, London
Stephen Kemble ('Hamlet in Scotland'), by and published by Robert Dighton, published 6 December 1794
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Stephen Kemble ('Hamlet in Scotland'), by and published by Robert Dighton, published 6 December 1794, NPG D13401, © National Portrait Gallery, London
Stephen Kemble ('Hamlet in Scotland'), by and published by Robert Dighton, published 6 December 1794
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Henry Thomas Betty as Hamlet, by F. Onwhyn, printed by Day & Haghe, published by Joseph Onwhyn, 1840s, NPG D31736, © National Portrait Gallery, London
Henry Thomas Betty as Hamlet, by F. Onwhyn, printed by Day & Haghe, published by Joseph Onwhyn, 1840s
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William Henry West Betty as Hamlet, by James Heath, after James Northcote, published 1806, NPG D31739, © National Portrait Gallery, London
William Henry West Betty as Hamlet, by James Heath, after James Northcote, published 1806
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William Henry West Betty as Hamlet, by James Heath, after James Northcote, published 1806, NPG D31740, © National Portrait Gallery, London
William Henry West Betty as Hamlet, by James Heath, after James Northcote, published 1806
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William Henry West Betty as Hamlet, by James Heath, after James Northcote, published 1806, NPG D31741, © National Portrait Gallery, London
William Henry West Betty as Hamlet, by James Heath, after James Northcote, published 1806
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Charles Albert Fechter in the character of Hamlet, by Richard James Lane, printed by M & N Hanhart, published by John Mitchell, published 1 July 1861, NPG D36678, © National Portrait Gallery, London
Charles Albert Fechter in the character of Hamlet, by Richard James Lane, printed by M & N Hanhart, published by John Mitchell, published 1 July 1861
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John Philip Kemble as Hamlet, by William Barnard, published by H. Fuller, after George Hounsom, published 1 November 1803, NPG D36812, © National Portrait Gallery, London
John Philip Kemble as Hamlet, by William Barnard, published by H. Fuller, after George Hounsom, published 1 November 1803
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Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet', by Window & Grove, (circa 1878), NPG Ax160172, © National Portrait Gallery, London
Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet', by Window & Grove, (circa 1878)